Corner joint for silk screen frames

ABSTRACT

A corner joint for constructing silkscreen frames, comprising a first insert member, a second insert member connected perpendicularly to the first insert member, and a means for achieving an air-tight fit between the insert members and frame side members. The free ends of the first and second insert members have at least one tapered surface. The insert members are adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member and tightly engage the frame side member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office fileor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates in general to corner joints, and moreparticularly to a corner joint for constructing a silk screen frame.

Several types of corner joint devices have been developed in art. U.S.Pat. No. 6,089,778 to Hirano discloses a joint for connecting tworesin-coated steel pipes in an intersecting fashion. The joint comprisestwo cylindrical tubes of equal length that are connected into L-shapedconfiguration via a curved connecting portion. The resin-coated steelpipes are inserted into the cylindrical tubes. The joint also includesslits for permitting a pair of fitting ribs of the resin-coated steelpipes to project there through and cover ribs extending along both sidesof the entire length of the slits for covering outer side surfaces ofthe pair of fitting ribs of the resin-coated steel pipe.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,289 to Kern discloses a corner joint device forlongitudinal bars and cross bars that are created from hollow profiles.The device has three legs connected at right angles to each other by aconnecting block. The connecting block is a short elbow onto which twoof the three legs are formed. The third leg is connected in a removablemanner to the crest of the connecting block. The hollow profiles of thebars can be slipped onto the legs. The three legs fit with little playexactly into the hollow profiles of the bars. The legs and the hollowprofiles can have a rectangular, square or circular cross section.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,705 to Guillemet discloses a corner assembly forholding a screen frame. The corner assembly has a pair of connector armsextending outwardly from a corner connector portion. The arms aretelescopically received in the corner connector, generally at 90 degreesrelative to each other. Each corner assembly includes a slide membercarried in a slide way. The cross-sectional configuration for sidemembers of the frame may be of the roll formed or extruded U-shapedconstruction. Each arm of the corner assembly has a U-shapedconfiguration, opening into a channel, adapted to be resilientlyreceived in gripping telescopic relation within the side members.

The components in the above devices and their methods of use aredifferent from the present invention. Currently, the process of silkscreening uses square or rectangular permanently welded metal frames,comprising four hollow side members connected at right angles. But theseframes are made on an individual basis, which requires skilled labor.Moreover, any liquid from the silk screening process can find its wayinto the hollow side members, especially through the corners of theframe.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide anoff-the-shelf corner joint that is easy to use for connecting hollowsilk screen frame side members without the need of skilled labor.

A further object is to provide a corner joint for connecting hollow sidemembers to form an air-tight seal for preventing passage of liquid fromthe silk screening process into the hollow side members.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cornerjoint for constructing a rigid silk screen frame to anchor material on,as is a requirement in the silk screening process. These and otherobjects of the present invention will become better understood withreference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a corner joint for connecting frame sidemembers of a silk screen frame. The corner joint comprises a firstinsert member and a second insert member connected perpendicularly tothe first insert member. The free ends of the insert members includetapered surfaces. The joint also includes a plate member at the plane ofconnection between the insert members to increase the strength. Theplate member forms a ridge on the joint and includes a hole.

The insert members are adapted to be tightly received inside the frameside members. A hermetic seal is achieved between the frame side membersand the joint by applying glue over the insert members before they areinserted inside the frame side members. The corner joint of the presentinvention thus helps in constructing a rigid silkscreen frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the corner joint of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the corner joint.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the corner joint and a pair of frameside members.

FIG. 4 a perspective view showing the frame side members engaged withthe corner joint.

FIG. 5 a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cornerjoint.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint withthree tapered surfaces.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint witha curved tapered surface.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 . . . Corner Joint 12 . . . First InsertMember 14 . . . Second Insert Member 16 . . . Rectangular Plate Member18 . . . First Tapered Surface 20 . . . Second Tapered Surface 22 . . .Frame Side Member 24 . . . Alternate Embodiment of the Corner Joint 26 .. . Round Insert Member 28 . . . Tapered Surface of the Round InsertMember 30 . . . Circular Plate Member 32 . . . Hole 34 . . . ThirdTapered Surface 36 . . . Curved Tapered Surface DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the corner joint isillustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1 through 6. Thecorner joint 10 is used to construct rigid silk screen frames,especially smaller silk screen frames, without the need of skilledlabor.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the corner joint 10 comprises a first insertmember 12, a second insert member 14, and a rectangular plate member 16at the plane of connection between the first and second insert members12 and 14. The first and second insert members are square tubularstructures and include a pair of tapered surfaces, namely, a firsttapered surface 18 and a second tapered surface 20 extending from thefirst tapered surface forming the free end of the insert member.Preferably, the second tapered surface 20 has a taper angle ofapproximately 8 to 10 degrees. The surface area of the plate member 16is more than the outer surface area of the insert members 12 and 14 toform a ridge on the joint 10. The plate member 16 includes a hole forallowing air to pass through the interior of the joint 10. The platemember 16 increases the strength of the joint 10.

In an alternate embodiment, the insert members 12 and 14 can compriseany number of tapered surfaces with varying taper angles that are morethan 2 degrees. Instead of straight tapered surfaces as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the insert members can comprise curved tapered surfaces.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second insert members 12 and14 are adapted to be inserted inside an end of a square tubular frameside member 22 and tightly engage the frame member. Four corner joints10 are used to construct a rigid silk screen frame. An air-tight fit isachieved between the insert members and the side members 22 by usingglue or adhesive material. Adhesive is applied to the insert members 12and 14 or to the inner surface of the side members 22 before insertingthe insert members. As an insert member is inserted inside the end of aside member 22, the tapered surfaces 18 and 20 scoop up the glue toensure an air-tight fit. Glue, when dried, occupies the space betweenthe tapered surfaces 18 and 20 and the inner surface of the side members22.

After the silk screen frame is constructed, the hole in the plate member16 allows air to pass through the interior of the silk screen frame toequalize pressure. The surface area of the plate member 16 is equal tothe outer surface area of the frame side members 22, so that the outerend of ridge is substantially in plane with the frame members 22.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in an alternate embodiment, the corner joint24 comprises round tubular insert members 26 with two tapered surfaces28 and a circular plate member 30. The diameter of the plate member 30is more than the diameter of the insert members 26 to form a ridge. Thecircular plate member 30 also includes a hole 32 for allowing air topass through the interior of the corner joint 24. This embodiment isused to construct a silk screen frame with round tubular frame sidemembers. In a preferred embodiment, the corner joints 10 and 24 are madeof aluminum.

In another alternate embodiment, the corner joint comprises multipletapered surfaces with increasing taper angles, as shown in FIG. 7 withfirst 18, second 20, and third 34 tapered surfaces. In another alternateembodiment shown in FIG. 8, the insert member includes a curved taperedportion 36 in the form of a smooth increasing arc.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

1. A corner joint for silkscreen frames, comprising: (a) a first insertmember adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member,tightly engaging the frame side member; (b) a second insert memberconnected to the first insert member and adapted to be received insidean end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame side member,wherein; (c) the free ends of the first and second insert members haveat least one tapered surface; and (d) means for achieving an air-tightfit between the insert members and frame members interior side, and theinsert members and frame members exterior side.
 2. The corner joint ofclaim 1, wherein the means for achieving an air-tight fit comprises ahermetic seal between the exterior of the insert members and theinterior of the frame members.
 3. The corner joint of claim 1, whereinthe seal is achieved by applying a glue or other adhesive material, sothat joining an insert member and a frame member causes the glue orother adhesive to form a hermetic seal when the insert member isinserted inside the end of the frame member.
 4. The corner joint ofclaim 1, wherein the taper angle of the at least one tapered surface ismore than 2 degrees.
 5. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein taperedsections of the insert members comprise a pair of the tapered surfaces,a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface extending from thefirst tapered surface forming the free end of the insert member andhaving a taper angle of approximately 8 to 10 degrees.
 6. The cornerjoint of claim 5, wherein the tapered sections of the insert memberscomprise a single taper comprising an increasing arc.
 7. The cornerjoint of claim 1, wherein the at least one tapered surface is a straightsurface.
 8. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the at least onetapered surface is a curved surface.
 9. The corner joint of claim 1,wherein the insert members comprise a plurality of the tapered surfaceswith multiple taper angles.
 10. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein theinsert members comprise square or rectangular tubular structures incross section.
 11. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the insertmembers comprise round tubular structures in cross section.
 12. Thecorner joint of claim 1, wherein the corner joint further comprises aplate member at the plane of connection between the first and secondinsert members.
 13. The corner joint of claim 12, wherein the outersurface area of the plate member is greater than the outer surface areaof the insert members, thereby forming a ridge on the corner joint. 14.The corner joint of claim 13, wherein the outer surface area of theplate member is equal to the cross sectional outer surface area of theframe side members.
 15. The corner joint of claim 12, wherein the frameside members engage the plate member, so that a uniform surface iscreated from the face of one frame member across the outer edge of theplate member to the face of the adjacent frame member.
 16. The cornerjoint of claim 12, wherein the plate member cross-sectionally bisectsthe frame member, and includes an air passageway that allows interiorair pressure inside the silk screen frame to equalize.
 17. The cornerjoint of claim 1, wherein the corner joint is comprised of aluminum. 18.A means of constructing a silk screen frame with side members andconnecting corner members, comprising the steps of: (a) achieving ahermetic seal between at least one corner member of the silk screenframe and at least one frame side member; and (b) achieving a uniformexterior surface from one frame side member to another frame side memberby; i. including a pane member equal in circumferential size to thebisectional circumferential size of a frame member, so that whenadjoining frame members are connected to a corner member, the outersurface of the pane member and outer surfaces of the frame members arein planar alignment.
 19. The means of claim 18, wherein the hermeticseal is achieved through the use of an adhesive.
 20. The means of claim19, wherein the adhesive occupies the space between at least one framemember interior and at least one corner member exterior, including thespace between the pane member and the edge of the at least one framemember
 21. A corner joint for silkscreen frames, comprising: (a) a firstinsert member adapted to be received inside an end of a frame sidemember, tightly engaging the frame side member; (b) a second insertmember connected to the first insert member and adapted to be receivedinside an end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame sidemember, wherein; (c) the free ends of the first and second insertmembers have at least one tapered surface; (d) means for achieving anair-tight fit between the insert members and frame members interiorside, and the insert members and frame members exterior side; and (e) aplate member at the plane of connection between the first and secondinsert members, the outer surface area of the plate member is greaterthan the outer surface area of the insert members, thereby forming aridge on the corner joint.
 22. The corner joint of claim 21, wherein theplate member includes an air passageway that allows interior airpressure inside the silk screen frame to equalize.